One day last semester, walking back from Chivers, it hit me. I am actually a college student. All those years in high school, college was toted as the ultimate goal. It was the end of the line, the final destination for me and all of my peers. And then finally, I graduated and now I am here. But why here? What prompted me to choose Morehouse College out of the thousands of colleges in the United States and furthermore, why would I consider an HBCU?

I’ve always been the minority where I lived. Alexandria, Virginia (the “V” in the DMV) is a relatively diverse part of the country. I use the word ‘relatively’ because despite the different ethnicities and races I came into contact with, Alexandria is predominately white. My elementary, middle, and high schools, ALSO were all predominantly white. While my high school more than prepared me for college, it was also sometimes very draining. The Black students at my school always had a certain camaraderie because we could relate when our peers tried to feel our hair, greeted us with “ebonics”, or defended white supremacist institutions in the classroom. And don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed my high school experience. But a myriad of incidents such as these left me longing for something different.

My father graduated from Morehouse in 1984, and he never really pushed Morehouse on me. He supported any decision I made. My father did, however, insist I at least participate in the Morehouse Coca-Cola Leadership Program, so that I had a taste of an HBCU experience. The Morehouse 2014 Coca-Cola Leadership Program changed my whole outlook on HBCUs. Prior to participating in the program, I was largely indifferent to HBCUs. I recognized their historical significance, but had no real intention of attending one. However, that one week in Hubert Hall in the summer changed my whole perception.

In high school, I had close relationships with a couple Black men, and also was close with many of the men in my family. But this was the first time that I had seen multiple young Black men open up to one another and allow themselves to be vulnerable. We laughed together. We cried together. I cannot remember any other time I have openly cried with other Black men. Leaving the program, I had a revelation, an epiphany. I chose to go to Morehouse because I realized that Historically Black Colleges and Universities offer something that other institutions may imitate but will never replicate. The camaraderie, the union, the family, between our brothers and our sisters. Living and learning with Black people does something to your psyche. I know it has done something for me. I have begun to reevaluate how I see myself and how I see Black people. My pride is strengthened every day. No other college could do that for me.

This is why I chose to attend Morehouse College.